We tend to fret over battery life as if it were the most important aspect of our devices (phones, tablets, laptops, etc), and while battery life is important, we often forget — or take for granted — that these batteries are essentially useless without their respective chargers.

Always unplug by the head — Never grab the charger by its cord and try to unplug it that way. It may work, and it may seem like you aren’t doing any damage, but over time the tension will cause irreparable internal damage.

Keep it dry — And keep it away from sources of water. Don’t charge in your kitchen, don’t charge in your bathroom, and always clean spills right away.

Keep it cool — Extreme temperatures, both hot and cold, can damage chargers. Try not to leave chargers on carpet or rug, especially in hot environments. When transporting during winter, insulate it.

Keep it tucked away — When you least expect it, a stray charger can turn into a tripwire. Not only can this cause damage to the charger itself (e.g. tear the cord, break the plug head), it can seriously hurt you!

You'd think this stuff would be common sense right? But I know way too many people who haven't the first clue about this stuff! Sorry that you didn't find this post useful, Andy. Please check out some of our other articles. I'm sure you'll find something worthwhile!